The Best Hotels to Book in Destin, Florida, for Every Traveler
There are three main reasons travelers come to Destin – sun, sea and sand. However, with cycling trails, the wildlife-rich Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and the chance to chart your own fishing boat, it’s not just sun-seekers who will love this Florida city. Whatever your reason for visiting, here are the best places to stay in Destin – bookable with Culture Trip.
1. The Henderson, a Salamander Resort
Luxury
Tucked inside a building that’s more New England than Northwest Florida, this seaside resort showcases art from local artists in its 170 rooms. Amenities at this beachfront hotel in Destin include six dining options – from the beachside cantina to the dock-to-table Primrose restaurant – and activities such as snorkeling and boogie boarding. However, the pièce de résistance is the hotel’s private strip of white sand next to the Henderson Beach State Park.
2. Beachside Inn
Guesthouse, Bed and Breakfast
When it comes to places to stay in Destin on the beach, this relaxed seaside motel charms with its two-tiered pool and breezy sundeck is mere steps from the shore. The nautical-themed rooms, with a king or two queen beds, feature original marine-life artworks, a mini-fridge, a microwave and daily coffee service. Some rooms are even pet-friendly – enquire when booking. The two dining options include a laid-back sidewalk cafe and Camille’s, which serves seaside fare and sushi.
3. Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard
Chain Hotel
This three-star hotel oozes business-class cool and is steps away from the Grand Boulevard Tower Center and its shops and dining options. Clean, functional rooms feature blackout curtains, coffee makers and mini-fridges to ensure a comfortable stay. The breakfast room and bar at this Destin hotel offer casual bites, and the Market has a range of grab-and-go snacks to take on a day of biking or sunbathing.
5. Embassy Suites by Hilton Destin Miramar Beach
Chain Hotel
This light-filled Destin luxury hotel is just steps from the flawless white strip of Miramar Beach and the golf and tennis resorts surrounding it. Two-room units are simply decorated and come with a marble vanity, a microwave, a mini-fridge and a sofa bed for up to two additional guests. Enjoy complimentary wine and beer at the evening reception before dining on Caribbean specialties and fresh seafood at Calypso Cafe. There’s also an enormous outdoor pool for enjoying a relaxing daytime swim.
6. 1210 Tops’l Tides
Apartment
This two-bedroom condo is part of the Vacasa chain and features a shared hot tub, gym, pool and tennis courts. Whip up a stack of pancakes in the fully equipped kitchen before heading out to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. The nature-rich habitat is an outdoor lover’s haven, with fishing, cycling, birding and swimming. The entertainment complex of Sandestin is also right on your doorstep, with cinemas, theaters and endless dining options.
7. Hampton Inn and Suites Destin
Budget Hotel, Chain Hotel
The Destin outpost of the Hampton Inn and Suites sits in a plum spot, just a five-minute walk from Henderson State Beach Park and countless steakhouses, pizza shacks and seafood restaurants, giving it a prime spot on the best places to stay in Destin list. However, if you’d prefer to stay at the hotel, you’ll find a fitness center and a saltwater pool. Almost all rooms come with a fridge and microwave, and many have a wet bar for serving coffee and drinks.
8. Hibiscus Coffee and Guesthouse
Guesthouse, Bed and Breakfast
Embodying Old Florida, this romantic bed and breakfast in Destin has 13 accommodation options. All come with a fridge, a microwave and a coffee pot, while three have a full kitchen. The attached cafe serves old-fashioned oatmeal, muffins, waffles topped with fresh fruit and pecans, and more. While away afternoons in the shady, hibiscus-filled courtyard or head out to the surrounding Grayton Beach State Park, exploring numerous hiking trails and a sugar-white beach.
Looking for more recommendations? Discover the top things to do in Destin and the best restaurants to go to for delicious local delicacies and fresh seafood.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.